Traditionally the double exposure effect is produced by photographers using nothing but their camera to combine two separate photographs to create an abstract and surreal image. However, we can also mimic the effect in Photoshop, which actually gives us more control over the final output with the ability to adjust and preview the effect as we go. Follow this step by step tutorial to create a double exposure effect yourself, well blend two existing photographs together with the help of some simple clipping and masking techniques.
The double exposure effect isnt just popular with photographers, its a technique that artists and designers can use to create cool abstract artwork. You can see this effect used in the real world on album covers and even during opening titles of popular TV series. Today were going to focus on mimicking the traditional effect in Photoshop. Its a relatively simple process but the final result mostly depends on a good match of two complementing photographs. For some inspiration, browse some great examples of double exposure images on Pinterest.
A popular combination of photographs is a portrait with a scene of nature, so Ive picked out some cool images from free stock photo websites. First, we have a female side profile from Stockvault.net. Aim to find a portrait with a clean background, otherwise it will be difficult to clip out the subject. The second image Ive chosen is a beautiful landscape scene from Unsplash. One of the benefits of creating this effect in Photoshop is you can test out multiple images to find the best match, so download a few contenders to see which one looks the best!
Begin by clipping out the subject from the portrait photograph. Use the Pen too and closely follow the outline of the persons profile.
Roughly follow the outline of the hair, cutting into the portrait by a few pixels to avoid capturing the background between the loose hair strands.
Follow the path all the way around the image, making rough clicks outside of the canvas until you reach the start, then complete the path. Right click and select Make Selection from the menu then enter 0.5px in the Feather Radius option.
Now lets work on that rough hair line. Go to Select > Refine Edge and begin altering the Edge Detection Radius and Shift Edge options to bring the hair line into the selection.
Extending the edge selection will also bring in areas of the background around the face. Select the Erase Refinements Tool from the Brush icon in the Refine Edge panel and paint over any areas of unwanted background.
Change the brush to the Refine Radius tool then paint around the hair line to capture any stray hairs that arent yet in the selection.
Copy this new selection from the Background and paste it onto a new layer. Add a layer with a white fill below it to isolate the portrait.
Open up the landscape image and paste it into the working document. CMD+Click the thumbnail of the portrait in the Layers panel to load its selection then click the Add Layer Mask icon to clip the background to the outline of the portrait.
Unlink the image from its mask by clicking the chain icon between the thumbnails in the Layers panel. This will allow you to move and scale the image independently from its mask, so the mask will stay in place while you find the best composition.
Duplicate the portrait cut out layer and drag it to the top of the stack. Open up the Levels adjustment (Image > Adjustments > Levels) and begin darkening the image by moving the Input and Output level sliders.
Change the blending mode of this new portrait layer to Screen to render all the dark areas transparent. The darkening of the image with the Levels will leave just a faint ghostly image, which can be tweaked with extra layer opacity adjustment.
Add a Layer Mask to this ghostly portrait layer and use a large soft brush to erase away some areas to blend it in. Painting black onto a layer mask will erase areas while painting white will bring them back.
Sample a light colour from the image and replace the fill colour of the white background layer.
This particular image silhouette has a strange shape on top of the head where the hair was lifted, but it can be blended in by painting a sampled background colour on a new layer with a soft brush.
Add a Black & White Adjustment Layer then reduce its opacity to around 30% to wash out the colour of the image.
Next, add a Levels adjustment layer and fine tune the contrast of the image by clipping the highlights and shadows.
Finally, add a Gradient Map and create a split toned style colour scheme. Ive gone for a light beige highlight (#e2d9d1), a dull brown midtone (#52463b) and a dark blue shadow (#0e1133). Change the blending mode of the Gradient Map layer to Color.
The completed image boasts the full double exposure effect and looks great with the extra colour filters. The sharp lines of the silhouette really stand out from the background while the addition of the subtle ghostly portrait layer being back some facial details. Unlike the traditional camera method though, this artwork can be changed and altered, allowing you to test out different backgrounds combinations and see the result as you work.
Download the source file
Quick-Tip: How to Create Double Exposure Photographs in ...
Step 1. Start by opening the photo youll use as a background into Photoshop. This is usually a landscape/cityscape. Place the second image by dragging and dropping
How to Create a Double Exposure in Photoshop | eHow
Double exposure is a classic poor mans photography effect. How to Create a Double Exposure Create a Double Exposure in Photoshop. Make a Double
How To Create a Double Exposure Effect in Photoshop
Traditionally the double exposure effect is produced by photographers using nothing but their camera to combine two separate photographs to create an abstract and
How To Create A Double Exposure Effect In Photoshop
you will learn the basics of creating a double exposure effect using the mask to http://photoshop123.com 100+ Photoshop Tutorials In this
How to create Double Exposure effect in Photoshop - Tutorial
instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jessicakobeissi facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jessicakphoto WEBSITE: http://www.violetspell.com Photoshop tutorial
9 Simple Steps to Make a Double Exposure Photograph in ...
Knowing how to make a double exposure photograph in Photoshop can be a Knowing how to make a double exposure photograph in Photoshop Double exposures
Create a Double-Exposure Effect in Photoshop | Planet ...
The HBO series True Detective serves as the inspiration for this double-exposure technique by Daniel Bryant. In this tutorial, youll learn how to create this
How to Create a Double Exposure in Photoshop
giving you the double exposure effect. There have been so many phans who have suggest we show how to create a double exposure in photoshop.
Double Exposure Photography: 50+ Examples and Tutorials
Done without Photoshop, Magnificent piece that really showcases the specific effect that double exposure I think the key to make a good double exposure
How to Create an Artistic Double Exposure Effect in Photoshop
Traditionally, a double exposure is created by simply snapping two shots in one frame on a film camera. Sometimes, you get it right and the outcome is incredible, but
Travelling is my life
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon